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Show QUICK ACTION ON PEACE PACT IS LEADERS' PLAN: CLOTURE IS DESIRED IN PACT DEBATE Senators, Restive at Prolonged Pro-longed Discussion, Propose Pro-pose ' Plan to Bring Covenant to a Vote. Two Distinct Movements Move-ments Now on Foot; General Encouragement Encourage-ment Given Promoters. By JAMES R. NOURSE. Staff Correspondent Universal Service. WASHINGTON, Nov. 12. Proposals to Invoke the cloture rule for the purpose of shutting of? debate on the peace treaty I and bringing the question of ratification to a final vote found considerable support among senators today. Two distinct proposals of cloturo were made, one by Senator Underwood, on the Democratic side, and the other by Senators Sena-tors Kellogg and Hale, Republicans. It was said that thlrty-flve Democrats were willing to sign up for cloturo and that almost al-most as many Republicans would make a similar agreement. Under the rules, sixteen senators may present the proposal of cloture to the senate, sen-ate, but the votes of two-thirds are necessary nec-essary to put it in force. Senator Lodge, the Republican leader, said that, although he had not been approached with any proposal for limiting debate, he did not doubt that there would be enough votes to invoke the cloture rule if it should bo presented to the senate. The movement to institute tho rule for limited debate was brought about by the fear that existed In the minds of many senators that the speeches made by Senator Reed of Missouri and Senator Jones of New Mexico and ,the speeches announced to be made by Senators La Follette and France were evidence of an Intention to conduct a filibuster which might prevent final action on the treaty at this session of congress-. PLAN TO HEAD OFF POSSIBLE FILIBUSTER. Only nineteen days remain before the extra session must dissolve and the regular regu-lar session convene, and some of the friends of the treaty were of the opinion that a filibuster had been started which might hold up Indefinitely the Lodge reservations res-ervations and the resolution of ratification. ratifica-tion. Senator Reed announced emphatically that he had no Intention to filibuster and said he had in mind only a brief speech which will not occupy more than thirty minutes. He asserted, however, that cloture at this t ime would be "monstrous," because, in his opinion, the time had not come for closing debate on the treaty question. The senator said: "Of one thing I am convinced, and that is, that If the debate lasts another sixty days the whole country will- rise In rebellion against this proposed league. I do not mean an armed rebellion, but a rebellion of sentiment which would make it impossible for the senate to agree to the covenant in any form. SAYS SENTIMENT IS AGAINST PACT. "The sentiment of the country is swinging swing-ing strongly against it. The elections held this last week prove this conclusively, particularly those in Kentucky and Oklahoma, Okla-homa, where the Issue was sharply drawn. Nevertheless, I have no intention of doing anything to prolong the debate beyond what is absolutely necessary to have full discussion of the treaty." Senator Borah said: "TMs If not the lime to start a filibuster fili-buster If any is necessary. What we want now Is to have the Lodge resolutions resolu-tions voted upon. If anybody wanted to start a filibuster the proper time would he when the question of -atifictlon is taken up. 1 have no reason to believe there would be one then.'' The death of Senator Thomas Njj Martin Mar-tin of Virginia will in all probability make a new alignment in the senate. Tn the first place It will make necessary neces-sary the selection by the Democrats of a new leader to fill Senator Martin's place. Gossip today appeared to favor Senator Oscar T'nderwood of Alabama for this place although by right of seniority and length of service In the senate the honor would fall first io Senator Cnlbert-son Cnlbert-son of Texas, who would be unable to accept ac-cept it, and then to Senator Simmons of North Carolina. HITCHCOCK NOT LIKELY SUCCESSOR. Senator Hltchcotk hasi been leading th fight for the treaty, but it Is not belleve.l probable that he would be chosen tn fin permanently the position of mino.ity leader. His nominal leadership undoubtedly undoubted-ly will end when the treaty is out of the way. The other contingency that Is likely to atlse out of Senator Martin's death is that ! his successor in all probability will be an out and out opponent of tha league. The appointment will be niad by Governor . Westmoreland !avis. who Is violently j (Contirojed on Page 13. Column 1.) I CLOTURE IS DESIRED li PACT DEBATE (Continued From Page One.) against the league and has so stated publicly pub-licly as well as privately. There is some talk that the governor may arrange to have himself named as Senator Martin's successor, in which case a vote would be lost to the Democratic side in the treaty fight. It has also 'been suggested that Governor Gov-ernor Davis might appoint Henry St. John Tucker, a Winchester lawyer, who is likewise on record as being opposed to the league. Tucker was a member of the committee of the American Bar association associa-tion which passed upon the league of nations na-tions question and was one of the two members of that committee who reported against indorsement of the league, the other three members having favored it. |
